RHINELANDER - More than 50 families in Oneida County were at a loss when Minocqua's Rocking Horse Child Care Center and Preschool shut down November 1. The closure of that facility is part of a greater trend being felt around Northern Wisconsin.

Families in Rhinelander could see some relief as early as next spring with child care expanding through YMCA of the Northwoods. The Y announced Wednesday it's planning to buy the old South Park School on Pelham St. for a new child care center.

Previously, the building was occupied by Bethesda's Rhinelander Community Life Center.

"Through this project we will look at doubling the capacity of child care here in the Rhinelander community," said YMCA CEO Ryan Zietlow.

The new facility would replace the Y's current child care center on Dorr St. Zietlow said the former school provides more space for kids to play both outdoors and inside an indoor gymnasium.

"They'll get all of the hands-on learning, nurturing and care in their classrooms," said Zietlow "We also have a space indoors for gross motor development, so we're very excited for the gymnasium."

According to the Center for American Progress, the majority of people in Oneida County live in a child care desert. The lack of child care can be discouraging for families who want to come to Northwoods for work.

"If, in fact, the child care is not available that really puts a huge strain on a family moving in," said Grow North Executive Director Brittany Beyer.

At $1,000 a month, the average cost of infant care in Wisconsin can add to strain of seeking child care in a community with few options.

"We are already beginning more conversations about how can we make it [child care] more affordable," said Zietlow.

Zietlow said the YMCA will consider child care subsidies but local business should also make an effort to help through employee benefits.

"There is room for investment in child care to make if affordable and quality for all of us," said Beyer.

If all goes as planned, the YMCA's new child care center will open next spring or summer.

Zietlow said the community will be asked the help pay for the cost of renovations and address other community needs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - City workers and local artists painted the words "Black Lives Matter" in enormous bright yellow letters on the street leading to the White House, a highly visible sign of the District of Columbia's embrace of a protest movement that has put it even further adds with President Donald Trump.

MILWAUKEE - For the first time in 53 years, summer in Milwaukee won't have a Summerfest.

The crown jewel for the City of Festivals, and the largest music festival in the United States, was canceled for the first time, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday morning in a unanimous vote by the board of Summerfest's parent company, Milwaukee World Festival Inc.

"Given the information available today, and the uncertainty surrounding very large gatherings, we cannot in good conscience proceed with the festival this year," Don Smiley, Milwaukee World Festival CEO, said in a statement. "The immediate future presents multiple levels of risk for our fans, and we choose the side of safety."

Refunds for Summerfest general-admission tickets are available at summerfest.com through July 17. 2020 general admission tickets and passes will also be honored for Summerfest 2021. Summerfest officials said dates for next year will be announced in the coming weeks.

PHELPS - Today, the Robbins family broke ground on their new home, courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.

"This is really exciting," said Dave Havel of the Northwoods Habitat for Humanity chapter. "With all of the issues we've had as a nation as a community. It's really great that we're moving forward and able to help this local family here in Phelps."

Excavation will start in the next few weeks - the next step in what both Rebecca and Cory call their dream home.

"They'll never know what this means to this family," said Rebecca Robbins. "They'll never know what this means to us. I have shed a few tears already and I'm sure a lot more to come. They'll just never know what this means to our family."

It will mean some freedom for Rebecca's daughter Jade.

"I will finally have my own room, after sharing a room with my older brother, then sharing one with my little brother," said Jade Robbins.

Cory works with Select Builders, the local contractor out of Eagle River hired by Habitat for Humanity.

"I can't believe I can do this," said Cory Robbins. "I mean, I've always dreamed of owning my own home and now I'm actually going to help build it."

This will be the 23rd home that Habitat for Humanity has helped build in the Northwoods, and the first one in Phelps.

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